STEPS TO THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Timeline
– College applications should be submitted either through Common Application or directly through the college website throughout September, October, and November.
– As a rule of thumb, all applications should be sent to post-secondary schools before Thanksgiving break.
– Students sending applications after Thanksgiving may find that certain majors are filled or that many post-secondary schools are filled. In any case, your chances for admission may be reduced.
Transcript Request
-Miss Hornberger is the one who MUST send your high school transcript to colleges. Students are NOT the ones who submit this.
– No transcript can be sent without a transcript request form. Students must complete the form and hand it in either directly to Miss Hornberger or place it in the bin on the counseling table.
-Please allow 1-2 weeks for this request to be completed. See Miss Hornberger if you run into a situation where you need it sent urgently.
Counselor Recommendations
– If a recommendation is required, notify your counselor and allow two (2) weeks for the recommendation to be written. Please give your counselor a list of activities you participate in.
Teacher Recommendations
– If a teacher recommendation is required, choose a teacher who knows you well and from whom you have done your best work. Along with your request, attach a note indicating to whom the completed recommendation is to be given and the date it is due. Please allow two (2) weeks for the recommendations to be written. If the recommendation must be mailed, provide an addressed envelope with the correct postage. Give the teachers as much information as possible about what the recommendation is for and in the case of a scholarship what qualifications will be judged.
SAT Testing
– Students applying to the more selective post-secondary schools need to check school information for SAT requirements and deadlines. Plan ahead as to which administration of the SAT you will be taking. You can find SAT registration links and test dates on College Board’s website.
NOTE: Students are required to register for the SAT online. The website for SAT registration is sat.org/register. You can also find practice tools on College Board’s website.
Scholarships
– Your best source of information is the post-secondary school you will be attending. Contact the Financial Aid Office and request a list of scholarships for which you might be eligible.
– Here at school, check the digital scholarship listings on the scholarship tab, the Google Classroom Class page, and counseling table in the main office. Availability of new scholarships occurs throughout the year!
– The scholarship applications for the scholarships offered only to MAHS students and the First Community Financial Partnership (FCFP) scholarship application will become available in February/March and will both have STRICT deadlines. Please see Mrs. Hornberger for more information.
Financial Aid
– Check your post-secondary schools’ website for any required forms. All post-secondary schools require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
– You are to submit the FAFSA form online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and this can be done after October 1st of each year. You should plan to submit this as soon as possible, keeping in mind it requires parental and student tax information. Check with your specific post-secondary school for their deadline for the FAFSA.
– If you need to submit the CSS/Financial Aid Profile, information can be found at http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile and must be submitted online after October 1st.
– Refer to your post-secondary schools’ website for specific deadlines. Try to submit your forms as early as possible!
-MAHS hosts a Financial Aid Night in the Fall every year that is open to juniors, seniors, and parents/guardians. This information is shared out to students and families when the night gets scheduled. It is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED that you plan to attend this if you want additional support with all things financial aid.
-PHEAA financial aid webinars are shared out as they become available as well to students and parents/guardians.
Acceptance
– Once you have accepted admission at the post-secondary school of your choice, you should email the other post-secondary schools to which you sent applications and ask them to withdraw your application from consideration.
– Notice that your letter of acceptance includes statements similar to the following : “Final admission is contingent upon successful completion of your senior year. We are confident that you will continue to achieve at a level consistent with your past performance” or “Admission is offered pending satisfactory completion of your current program of study” or “Note: offer conditional pending receipt of the final high school transcript.” Do not stop working once you are accepted. Admission can be withdrawn if there is a significant change in your academic achievement.
-A college enrollment deposit, a nonrefundable payment made to secure your spot in an incoming class, is required to the post-secondary school that you will be attending. This often due by May 1st, but be sure to check with your specific college to be sure of their deadline.
Finally
– Post-secondary schools require that you have a final transcript sent following graduation. When you have made a final decision and have sent your deposit, let Miss Hornberger know and request that your final grades be sent to your post-secondary school.
-A senior survey will be distributed to all seniors in their senior English classes in May, which will require all students to list their post-graduation plans. This allows Miss Hornberger to have students’ final plans confirmed so final transcripts can be sent to the correct institution if college-bound. If going into the military or directly into the workforce, students will also be required to list this.
-Students are requested to write their name and post-graduation plans on the hanging clipboard on the bulletin board above the counseling table in the main office.
ATHLETICS
Student Athletes
– If you are planning to enroll in a post-secondary school and you wish to participate in Division I, Division II, or Division III athletics, you MUST be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. You can do this at the following website: www.eligibilitycenter.org
-It is highly recommended from NCAA that you have an account created by your junior year.
–Students are responsible for making sure they meet the NCAA eligibility criteria for their specific college of interest.
– If you plan to participate in athletics, be in contact with the athletic offices and coach at your post-secondary school. Each post-secondary school and each sport may be different. We cannot possibly advise you of all the different rules at the many different post-secondary schools that students will attend, so the college will have the most accurate information to share.